How close are the Western Balkan countries to EU standards, and where are the largest gaps? These questions are at the heart of the EU Convergence Dashboard, a new data-driven platform presented in Tirana.
The Dashboard was developed as a joint initiative of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) and Think Europe / Evropa misli, in cooperation with partners from all six Western Balkan countries and with the support of the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans.
Turning data into a clearer picture of convergence
The EU Convergence Dashboard tracks the progress of Western Balkan countries towards EU standards across economic, social and institutional dimensions. By translating complex data into accessible and comparable indicators, it provides policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and citizens with a clearer picture of how closely societies in the region are approaching EU averages and where further progress is needed.
The tool provides a data-based perspective on the long-term process of convergence and supports a better understanding of the gaps that remain between the Western Balkans and the European Union.
“European integration is not about ticking boxes; it is a shared national project. It requires the energy of society, the vigilance of parliaments, the discipline of administrations, and the vision of citizens,” said Andi Dobrushi, Regional Director of the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans.
According to Dobrushi, the Dashboard is not designed to rank countries, but rather to serve as “a mirror that helps us see clearly where we stand, what is improving, and where more work lies ahead.”
Dashboard presented in Tirana
The Tirana event brought together Eridana Çano of the Albanian State Agency for Strategic Programming, Branimir Jovanović of wiiw, Dritan Shano, Albania Country Expert, and Zoran Nechev, Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Think Europe.
The discussion highlighted the importance of using reliable and comparable data to inform policymaking and track the progress of Western Balkan countries towards closer integration with the European Union.
A tool to support and accelerate reforms
The EU Convergence Dashboard is more than a dataset. It is designed as a collaborative policy tool to help Albania and other Western Balkan countries identify key development gaps, monitor progress and better target reform efforts.
By comparing countries across the region with EU benchmarks, the Dashboard contributes to a more informed discussion about what European integration means in practice — and how quickly living standards and broader conditions in the Western Balkans are converging with those of the European Union.
Explore the EU Convergence Dashboard:
www.converge2.eu
